Fergie arrived at Old Trafford back in 1986 with a mission in mind to knock Liverpool “off their perch”.

And, after Liverpool’s last title triumph four years later, the United boss has helped ensure that the “enemy” have not got back to that lofty level again.

Now Liverpool boss Brendan Rodgers has inherited a club desperate to return to those historic days of title collecting – and the heavy burden of expectation which goes with it.

But Fergie said: “I knew the challenge when I came to Old Trafford. In one of my early press conferences we said we couldn’t afford to go 25 years without winning the title. It was 26.

“So you are aware of the history of your club. Brendan will be the same. You are aware of the history and so is everyone else, the supporters and the players. So it’s not easy.

“Liverpool have had fantastic teams. They had a good management structure with two great managers in a row. Bill Shankly created it and Bob Paisley carried it on.

“It was a tragedy for Bill to quit and then they went and won three European titles with Bob. Shankly deserved one of those. That was a period of great teams, great players. They were a dominant team, no question.”

Ferguson, shaking his head at the 21-point difference, added: “I never even thought about that until it was mentioned on the television. I don’t really look at that. I look at the mob that’s directly behind us.

“I look at their programme, who they have got next. I do that all the time. So, of course it’s a surprise to see us 21 points ahead of Liverpool.

“Last year we were 30 points ahead of Arsenal and I’d never have believed that in a million years. But if you look at the rivalry with Liverpool over the last 20 years, it’s amazing.

“I know City represent a different outlook in the last five years but Liverpool were always the one and nothing will change.

“Maybe the rivalry has changed with more foreign players. But that doesn’t stop the effort. I think it will be 100 per cent commitment again when we meet.”